Sensor unit for monitoring a tubular

Abstract

A sensor unit for a fingerboard latch assembly that comprises a latch bracket and a latch rotatably supported on the latch bracket is mountable on the latch. The sensor unit comprises a sensor configured to sense an adjacent tubular, and a processor that processes the output of the sensor to provide a tubular monitor signal representing the presence or absence of an adjacent tubular A wireless communication unit wirelessly communicates the tubular monitor signal. This allows a wireless sensor unit to be provided that is suitable for operation in remote locations and can verify the presence or absence of tubular to ensure it is securely stored in a fingerboard.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fingerboard latch assembly comprising:
 a latch bracket; 
 a latch rotatably mounted on the latch bracket; and 
 a sensor unit mounted on the latch for monitoring a tubular adjacent the fingerboard latch assembly, wherein the sensor unit comprises:
 a sensor configured to sense an adjacent tubular, and 
 a processor arranged to receive an output of the sensor and to generate a tubular monitor signal representing a presence or absence and/or representing a position of the adjacent tubular. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , where the sensor unit further comprises a wireless communication unit arranged to wirelessly communicate the tubular monitor signal. 
     
     
       3. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the wireless communication unit comprises a radio communication unit. 
     
     
       4. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 3 , where the wireless communication unit is arranged to wirelessly communicate utilising a wavelength that is less than the minimum spacing between tubulars mounted in the fingerboard latch assembly. 
     
     
       5. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is configured to sense the position of the adjacent tubular. 
     
     
       6. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor is further configured to sense a speed and direction of movement of the adjacent tubular, and wherein the tubular monitor signal further represents the speed and direction of movement of the adjacent tubular. 
     
     
       7. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor implements one of ultrasonic, acoustic, electromagnetic, magnetic, radio-frequency, microwave, ultra-wideband, optical, infrared, imaging or inductive sensing. 
     
     
       8. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit includes a fitment that fits within an aperture in the latch. 
     
     
       9. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein the sensor unit further comprises a retaining member configured to engage with the fitment and retain the sensor unit in the aperture. 
     
     
       10. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is encapsulated within the latch. 
     
     
       11. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 10 , wherein the latch is made from a material that is transparent to sensor technology of the sensor. 
     
     
       12. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing that houses electronic components of the sensor unit. 
     
     
       13. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the housing is made from a plastic that is resistant to ultraviolet radiation, for example polyether ether ketone. 
     
     
       14. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the sensor unit incorporates shock adsorbing material or features arranged to reduce shock to the electronic components. 
     
     
       15. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the shock adsorbing material or features to reduce shock to the electronic components to less than 400 g. 
     
     
       16. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the shock adsorbing material or features allow internal electronic components to move by at least 1 mm in any direction. 
     
     
       17. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the shock adsorbing material or features that have a compression set of less than 30%. 
     
     
       18. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a near-field communication unit arranged to perform near-field communication. 
     
     
       19. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein the sensor includes an electromagnetic probe that is a coil, and the near-field communication unit is arranged to perform near-field communication using the coil as an antenna. 
     
     
       20. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes two electromagnetic probes spaced apart. 
     
     
       21. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the output of the sensor is a differential signal taken between the two electromagnetic probes. 
     
     
       22. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 20 , wherein the output of the sensor indicates on which side of the latch a tubular is present. 
     
     
       23. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the tubular monitor signal further comprises metadata which is logged electronically including date and time. 
     
     
       24. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the metadata includes any one or more of: RFID, sensor identity, tubular presence, tubular absence, latch identity, number of latch cycles, number of tubular detections, count of open, count of closed, speed, acceleration, angle, vibration, battery charge, signal level. 
     
     
       25. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 23 , wherein the sensor unit further includes a location device arranged to detect a location of the sensor unit on the fingerboard latch assembly, and the metadata includes the location of the sensor unit detected by the location device. 
     
     
       26. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 25 , wherein the location device is a Global Positioning Satellite location device or an ultrawideband radio frequency location device. 
     
     
       27. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an orientation sensor arranged to sense an orientation of the latch, the processor being arranged to derive a latch orientation signal representing the orientation of the latch; and 
 a wireless communication unit arranged to wirelessly communicate the tubular monitor signal and the latch orientation signal. 
 
     
     
       28. A fingerboard latch assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sensor comprises two ultrasonic probes that are spaced apart along a sideways axis of the latch, and 
 the processor is arranged to receive the output of the two ultrasonic probes and to generate the tubular monitor signal representing the presence or absence of an adjacent tubular and, when present, a side of the latch on which the adjacent tubular is present.